Locate your phone

[kiswum]

edit 15-02-2013: The manual has been reviewed and tested a few times more this week:

Chinese citizens could probably use this feature already, but I've tested it from The Netherlands/Europe and it can be used here as well!
Here is a little guide how you can find your device back when you have lost it.

Go to the website https://i.xiaomi.com -> Create a new account or just log in -> Click on "Find Device".
I don't know this exact steps after this because I have already setup my device. I guess you have to register your phone and a SMS should be sent to your device. You have to choose for this option. The Text message will probably not end up in your inbox, but your phone will receive the message in the background.
Leave this site open

On your device
Go to settings - >Add a Xiaomi account -> Other settings and turn on "Find Device"
Go back to the website and search for your phone.
At appears that the site doesn't do much, but you will finally get a message in the bottom that Google Maps could not show your location and there will be a link displayed. After a few tests I noticed that there will appear a gray message in the corner of the search field. When you click on this message you can go to the Googlemap location of your phone. In my tests it was always within 20 meters of the real location.

If you check the logfile, you will see something like this:

2013-02-15 11:12:51 Execute Phone location return command, number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-15 11:12:51 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-12 20:42:57 Execute Phone location return command, number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-12 20:42:57 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 14:55:10 Execute Phone location return command, number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 14:55:10 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 14:54:42 Execute Phone location return command, number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 14:54:42 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 14:54:00 Execute Phone location return command, number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 14:54:00 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*

Here it failed to locate my telephone, after turning the Find Phone option on, on my mobile it worked again.
2013-02-11 14:42:57 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 14:33:37 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 14:14:05 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 13:47:10 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 13:45:08 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 13:40:28 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*
2013-02-11 13:39:02 Execute command Phone location number is +316*Phonenumber*

This feature is tested a few times in 1 week and can have a different effect every time. It is still under construction and not stable enough for The Netherlands.

Here are a few screenshots:
Login:

Menu Find device:

Find device:

Sometimes the link "view from external site" shows up:


Location:

If you have questions or remarks, contact me or put it in a comment

 

[Google Nutzer]

Actually, I do like the idea of the system, but it doesnt work well. I just logged in and it says my device is offline, and now it's not. So I turned it on and off, now it says its online I tracked it and the map doesnt work. I turned it off and it has been displayed as online for 2hrs now -_-

 

[kiswum]

It looks like the tool has it's own mind and doesn't always work as it is designed. It doesn't always work when you search for your device. I hope this will be fixed soon.

 

[Janvier]

This service requires that the GPS of your phone is always on? Seems a bit too battery consuming for a 'just in case' feature in that case.

 

[kiswum]

I hear it a lot: People say that GPS is consuming a lot of power. Do you have any figures for this statement? It will cost you about five percent in one day. Trust me on this statement. You can test it out as well

 

[Janvier]

I hear it a lot: People say that GPS is consuming a lot of power. Do you have any figures for this statement? It will cost you about five percent in one day. Trust me on this statement. You can test it out as well

Not at all! Will test it

 

[kiswum]

Great, hope to hear from you in 36 hours
Btw, turning WiFi off will save you much more then turning off BT and GPS.

 

[grondinm]

seems some bugs still but it's a good step. was able to lock the phone did not try the alarm as i am at work but will try that tonight. seems to always find the phone as online tho even when it is not. and it could not really find the phone at all...did not try with GPS on...

And with that comes a "bug" when you remotely lock the phone after it is unlocked using the code you select the screen security goes back to slide. it should stay at whatever it was before like for me i have face unlock setup...

 

[grondinm]

as an update to my "bug" it seems the screen security is reset after every reboot now. When my phone first starts up i get a prompt for my xiaomi account password saying my device is locked. once i get mobile network connection it goes away...how can i get ride of this???

EDIT: Nevermind this does not happen every reboot....did happen a few times tho kinda odd...

 

[kiswum]

Sorry I haven't tried the lock mode and don't want to try it

I think the tool has changed to find your phone or I noticed something new
When you search for your phone it now says: Phone location in the corner. If you click on this it will guide you to your phone.

I've changed the guide today.